Machine for cutting contours



L. J. LAMBERT MACHINE FOR CUTTING CONTOURS Jan. 23, 1951l 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1945 Jan. 2 3, 1951 J. LAMBERT MACHINE FOR CUTTING coNTouRs Filed Aug. s, 1945l 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 23, 1951 L. .'J. LAMBERT I 2,539,309

MACHINE FOR CUTTING c'oNToURs Filed Aug. 8, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 23, 1951 l.. J. LAMBERT MACHINE FOR CUTTING coN'roURs 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 8, 1945 Jan. 23, 1951 L. J. LAMBERT MACHINE FOR CUTTING CONTOURS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1945 Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CUTTING CONTOURS Leo J. Lambert, Danvers, Mass.

Application August 8, 1945, Serial No. 609,518

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine which will successively cut repeats of a curvilinear contour and as a specic example thereof a machine which will operate on successive separate blanks or Work pieces to form each with a similar contour. One large field for the use of such a machine is in the manufacture of wooden heels for womens shoes, and I shall herein illustrate and describe as an exemplary embodiment of the invention a machine particularly designed for use in the manufacture of wedge heels, so called, and operating to cut from suitable blanks or blocks the surface which in use opposes the heel seat portion and arch of the shoe.

The machine which I am about to describe bears a certain resemblance to known machines wherein relative movement between a work piece and a cutter head is controlled by a template Ior cam to cause the cutting of a desired contour on the work piece or wherein the cutter head is guided by a tracer cooperating with a master pattern. An important feature of the invention, however, radically distinguishing it from such machines is that the contours as formed by the machine are utilized, as on one block or blank, to control the cutting operation for a subsequent or blank. I believe such arrangement to be fundamentally novel and it has many advantages f which will appear to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds and certain of which will be adverted to herein. A coordinate object of the invention is the provision in a contour cutting machine of an improved construction for handling the several work pieces during their passage through the machine to provide ease of operation, accuracy `and speed.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description of the specic embodiment thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation as seen from the operators side, certain frame members (illustrated in Fig. 3) being broken away between their ends or being omitted and having their position indicated by dash lines in order to disclose parts which lie behind them or at the further side of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking downwardly from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2c is a perspective of a blank or block for a wedge heel having indicated thereon in dot and dash lines a contour to which it may be cut;

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 oi Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the Work-carrying table with its work-clamping. mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the same looking in the direction of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating certain tracer rolls and the cutter head controlled thereby and the connecting means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the same parts in another position;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 and shows in plan on a smaller scale the parts which appear in Figs. 7 and 8;

Figs. 10 through 15 are diagrammatic views showing various positions A,assumed by the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8 rduring a typical series of initial cutting operations by the machine; and

Fig. 16 is a diagram, unrealistic as regards the actual construction of the machine shown in the other ngures but here included to facilitatethe understanding of the combination of parts more particularly illustrated in Figs. 7 through 9.

As I have already stated, the machine here shown is adapted to cut from suitable blanks or work pieces w (Fig. 2a) the surface which in a wedge heel opposes the heel and extends under the arch of the shoe. In Fig. 2a this blank is shown as a somewhat tapered block of soft wood with parallel sides as we may assume in the present instance that the turning to provide the side surface of the heel is a second operation although the order of operations might be reversed. The machine operates to cut away from this block the portion thereof which lies above the dot and dash line in Fig. 2a., the remaining portion when turned to the proper side outline constituting the wedge heel.

Before proceeding with the detailed description it will be convenient to state that the machine here shown is organized on a suitable frame which may be constructed of Wood, as indicated in Fig. 3, and may comprise two longitudinal frame members 2|] which suspend between them a central member 22, desirably adjustable vertically for reasons later to be described and by mechanism which will be later described. This member is indicated in dash outline only in Fig. 1. Along the upper sides of the frames 20 are the longitudinal members 24 located at either side of the machine and providing a support for various pillar blocks and other mechanical elements, as will be apparent from inspection of the drawings as the mechanical details of the machine are hereinafter described` The cutting is effected by a rotary cutter head 26, here conventionally illustrated merely as a cylinder. It may be of the type usual in Shapers and comprise a number of removable knives having either straight or proled cutting edges as required by the work at hand. The circular boundary of the cylinder represents the cutting circle of the knife edges. The cutter lies substantially centrallyof the machine and is here shown as mounted on the shaft of an electric motor 2S carried by a pivoted arm 3E! and counterbalanced by a weight 32 in such manner that merely enough pressure is provided tohold the cutter up to its Work. The vertical position, viewing Fig. l, of the lcutter head is varied by control means hereinafter described to cause it to cut the desired contour on work pieces passing beneath the same and which travel from right to left, viewing Figs. 1 and 2.

The Work pieces or blanks w are secured to tables 34 which are traversed successively past the cutter head. Herein they are moved by a chain conveyor comprising sprocket chains 35 at either side of the machine, the chains having straight runs, herein their lower runs, passing the under side of cutter head 25, as best shown in Fig. 1. The cutter head thus opposes the lower run of the chain from the inner side thereof, the upper run of the chain extending above the same. The' chains are driven by sprockets 38 on the transverse shaft d connected through coupling 42 (Fig. 2) to a suitable source of power. Preferably the right-hand ends of the chains, viewing Figs. 1 and 2, are not trained over sprockets but over xed semi-cylindrical guides 48 located generally where a companion sprocket wheel would ordinarily be mounted. This construction aids in preventing jerking and chattering of the chains and regularizes the motion as they are drawn forward by the sprockets. I

The tables 3d are carried by the chains onto supporting guides which position them relatively to the cutter head during the cutting operation. Herein the tables are hung pivotally from the chains by trunnion-like extensions G (Fig. 3) at one edge of the same and, except when posi tioned by the guiding means, may hang down freely as indicated at the upper portion of Fig. 1.

The outer ends of the extensions 5:.'1 are provided with a pair of rolls or Wheels 52 and a pair of wheels 54 is provided at the other end of the table. As best seen in Fig. 3, the wheels 52 may run in a guide or track-way formed by milled-out channels 58 along the opposed inner edges-of the longitudinals 24 while the wheels 54 run in similar track-ways 58 on central member 22. As seen at the right of Fig. 1, the web and lower flangeof channel 53 may be extended at 59 adjacent the chain guides e8 and shaped to swing the tables into proper position to cause the Wheels 54 to enter their guideways. The tables are thus rigidly supported as they pass the cutter head and in the present instance because of the diierent elevation of the tracks are disposed at an angle so that the line of cut on the blank, as indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig.y 2a, is approximately horizontal, thereby minimizing the necessary movement of the cutter head in making the cut.

To provide for producing heels -of different heights the angle of the tables may be varied by adjusting the elevation of the central member 22 and with it the track-ways 58 and herein (see Figs. l and 3) eccenti'ics are provided at both 4 ends of the machine at each side of the central frame member 22, the eccentrics working in eccentric blocks 52 sliding horizontally in channel guides and being connected pairwise for simultaneous rotation at each end of the central member by the cross-member which passes through the central frame with a suitable clearance. The operating shafts of the eccentrics extend through the side frames 2li andare fitted with sprockets G8 and the two sprockets 68 at the ends of the machine may be turned by means of the sprocket chains 7) from a single central hand wheel l2. When the wheel i2 is turned, the central member is moved vertically along the vertical guideways il provided therefor.

IThe work pieces w are clamped to the faces of the tables 311. A preferred construction for these clamps is illustrated in detail in Figs. i and 5. As there shown they include a fixed jaw l5 for engaging one side of he work piece w and an opposed jaw 'i8 slidable transversely of the table by means of the dovetailed base 85 thereof which moves in a suitable undercut way 32 on the top of the table. The jaw i8 may be moved along the way by means of a stud 84 which projects downwardly from the dovetail 85 and passes, with suitable clearance as seen in Fig. 4, through the table. The stud 84 is connected beneath the table to the intermediate portion `of a forwardly extending lever 86 pivoted at S8 at the central rear vportion of the table and having its forward end connected by a spring 95 to the free end of a lever 92 pivoted on xed center 5d at the forward end of the table, the two levers being connected between their ends by a pin and slot connection Q5 which permits the movements hereinafter described. In the full line position of the lever 35, as seen at the lower portion of Fig. 5, the movable jaw i8 is withdrawn from xed jaw 18 and the work piece can be freely placed between the same. Now, if the free end of the lever 85 is thrown upwardly, viewing Fig. 5, to the dot and dash position illustrated, the movable jaw is'likewise drawn upwardly to clamp the work and in this move- -ment the connection at moves over center and the parts remain in that position under the tension of the spring 50. As will apear, however, this "mechanical pressure of the jaws is not alone relied upon in the present machine for firmly securing the block during the actual cutting operation.

Herein for closing the jaws and holding them closed I utilize an electrically energized mechanism which may consist of a solenoid 98, the movable core of which is connected to a pin itil on the lever 86 so that when the solenoid is energized it will draw the pin I Uil upwardly, viewing Fig. 5, closing the movable jaw 'i8 and, as long as its energizaton continues, hold itin firm clamping relation to an interposed work piece.

To control the energization of the solenoid, leads E52 from its winding (Fig. 4) may be connected to brushes Eilli in the form of exible springs mounted on, but insulated from, the trunnion-like extensions 50 at the front of the table (see Fig. 3) and which, when the carriage is free from the supporting track-ways, may rest against the rear wheels 51 of the tables as shown in Fig. 4. As the tables are rolled into cooperation with the track-ways, these brushes are flexed upwardly and then move along Contact strips H65 disposed along the upper margins of the central frame member 22 immediately above the location of the tracks 456 and which are connected to opposite sides of an electric line by connections 44. The solenoid is thus energized to close the clamping device and to hold it closed during the operation of the cutter head but is deenergized when the brushes leave the contact as the table is carried upwardly around the sprocket 3B to start its return journey toward the right, as shown at the upper portion of Fig. 1. Desirably, however, the clamps remain closed under the action of the spring Sil until the tables again come to the right-hand end oi the machine. The tables with the completed heels thus travel from the left-hand end of the machine to the right-hand end, viewing Fig. l, hanging from the upper run of the conveyor with the completed work in full view of the operator for Properly to position the work piece on the table 34 a stop or gage for its rear end required and herein rear gages for. the various tables are provided with a common mounting and provision for simultaneous adjustment. For this purpose a chain H6 is provided centrally of the machine with its upper run adjacent to and parallel to the lower run of the table-carry ing conveyor, which chain carries back stop members H8. These' back stop members are mountn ed on outwardly turned anges |2| which are parts of the chain links and each is supported in the upper run of its travel by two pairs of rollers |23 on the extended ends of the chain pivot pins |25, which rollers roll into tracks |2l, the construction being analogous to that of the tables 34 and their supporting rolls moving on tracks 55 and 58. The back stop members l5 have projecting nose portions I2@ which, when the adjacent runs of the chain i5 and conveyor chains roll into opposed relation, extend in over the rear edges of the tables 34 in the mann ner perhaps best seen in Fig. e to provide gages cooperating with the back ends or the work pieces to locate them in proper position on the tables to be grasped and held in that position by the jaws 16 and 'i8 already described. The lower chain is dragged around a fixed guide |22 at the right-hand end of Fig. 1 and into tracks |21 by the driving sprocket |24 at the leftehand end, the shaft of the sprocket being driven from the shaft 4i) of the sprockets 38 of the upper chain conveyor by chain |26 trained about suitable connecting sproekets |28 on said shafts and binder sprockets |36, one of which is mounted on swinging arm |32, normally drawn to lchain-- tightening position by a spring |34. To provide for adjusting the timing of the two chain conveyors and thereby simultaneously adjusting the positions of the back stops or gages [2e relative to the tables 34, the driving sprocket 23 for the chain |26 is secured to the driving shaft of the upper conveyor through (see Fig. 2) the driving arm |36 on sprocket 38 which enters between the ends of two hand screws 38 on two arms |40 projecting from sprocket 52S. By backing out one of these screws and turning up the other the position of the driving sprocket |24 is altered relatively to that of sprocket 38 and a simultaneous adjusting movement of the various back stops carried by the lower chain conveyor l i5 is eiected.

The construction as so far described is an example of a suitable mechanism for moving successive blocks or blanks at regular intervals past the cutter head 26. The general principle of operation of the cutting mechanism of the machine is that a block which has been shaped by the cutter head after passing the same is used as a template or pattern for control of the cutter head in a subsequent contouring operation.

Referring now l more particularly to Fig. 1, herein two tracer wheels or rolls |42 and |44, which, for reasons in connection with the particular mechanical design which will appear, are herein of the same diameter as the nominal maximum cutting circle of the cutter head 26, are mounted on transverse shafts or centers |45 and M8 spaced from one another and from the cutter head in such manner that pieces of nished work on two successive tables enter and pass beneath the rolls as a blank enters and passes beneath the cutter head. It will be apparent that if the cutting circle of the head were of exactly the same size as the rolls, a movement of the center of the former vertically equal in amount to the movement of the center of the latter would cause the cutter to duplicate the previous piece. If, however, for one reason or another the piece passing beneath the tracer roll were cut slightly over or under size, although the error in itself might be within an acceptable tolerance, it would in such case be cumulative and soon become prohibitive. The construction which I am about to describe avoids this diniculty and provides other advantages in use.

The shafts or centers |46 and |48 for the tracer wheels are (see Fig. 3) journalled in depending webs |50 from a cross-member |52 guided centrally on posts |53 projecting upwardly from the side members 24 and capable of being displaced upwardly against the pressure of the springs |54 carried by those studs. The two tracer rolls E42 and |44 thus move vertically in unison in the plane of the paper, viewing Fig. 1, or may swing one relatively to the other in that plane. The posts |53 are here shown as received by transversely elongated slots |55 in member |52 to permit transverse adjustment of the latter to cause the rolls to track centrally on work of different widths. Downward descent of the rolls is limited by stop screws |5 through the corners of member |52 and they thus cannot foul the tables. Since, as will hereafter appear, the cutter head is sustained at substantially the same level as the rolls, this arrangement also prevents the cutter head from coming into contact with the tables.

To control the position of the cutter head 25 by means of the tracer rolls 42 and |44 I utilize a linkage which compensates for errors and in the course of a few cutting operations will automatically relatively position the cutter head, irrespective of its exact diameter, tangent to the common tangent to the rolls |42 and |44, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so that if the two tracers cooperate with identical pieces and the cutter head moves vertically with them, the cutter head will form an exact duplicate of those pieces. This linkage possesses the property that under simultaneous parallel movement of the tracers lpast the center the parts of the linkage move in unison as if parts of a rigid body but shift relatively on swinging movement of one tracer relative to the other. Thus if a relatively over-size work piece .passes one of the rolls, it can swing relatively to its companion roll, and this motion is imparted in some proportion to the cutter head to eifect an adjustment of the latter in the opposite sense. Eventually the cutting circle of the cutter head will be brought to the desired position and the machine will proceed without compensating movement of the linkage. Thus, referring, for instance, to Fig. 7 in which the cutter head and the tracer rolls are in what might be termed zero position but the cutter head is under-siZed (exaggerated in the ligure as compared to what would occur in practice), the piece of work would be cut over-sized by the cutter head, but after a few cutting operations the parts would be brought in a manner to be described to the adjusted position shown in Fig. 8. The movements involved are very small and have been exaggerated not only in Fig. 8 out in the diagrams, Figs. l0 through 15, which will hereinafter be referred to.

In the normal zero position of the linkage, as shown in Fig. 7, the various links are aligned and in general they remain substantially aligned. I believe, however, the construction and operation will be more readily understood by reference rst to the diagram., Fig. 16, in which the various links are shown separated to form a linkage of similar operation to that in fact shown as a portion of the machine and the action of which, because of its more open character can .2.,

be more easily seen. Referring, therefore, to Fig. 16, I there show the centers |545 and |48 of the two tracer rolls M32 and il fixedly connected and spaced by the part |56 which is represented in the actual construction by the webs |50 of the frame in which the rolls are mounted. The centers Mt and |558 are connected by two links IES and 66 respectively pivoted together at |62. The links i553, E58 and ld form an indeformable triangle. centers of the link les is pivoted lever 66, the opposite end of which engages a center |68 on the end of the cutter head shaft while at an intermediate point i'i the lever le@ is operatively joined to an extension |12 of link tei 52, this connection being a pivotal one with provision for slight longitudinal play graphically shown with exaggeration in Fig. r6 as an elongated slot l'l in the link exten sion llZ.

Now, referring to Fig. 16, if the two rolls move vertically, the linkage remains rigid and the centel1 |53 moves vertically an equal amount. If, however, roll M2 is raised by an unduly large piece passing beneath the same so that it will swing about center M3, the point ESQ will move upuf'ardly with it tending to rock lever lb on center il@ and depress the cutter head shaft at the point |63. Also if the rear roll hlt swings upwardly about ltd as center, the link lt@ and its extension l will be moved therewith, likewise tending to depress center` Edt. The extent of the motion will depend on the proportioning of the parts and, of course, motions of both rolls may occur simultaneously and amounts.

in the actual construction of the machine as illustrated in the other figures of the drawings, we may consider that the triangle formed in Fig. 16 by the parts |56, |53 and |60 has decreased At center lL-'i between the in varying lll in altitude until the latter two parts are in line with the line of the centers |46 and |48 and the other levers also extend in that line in the zero position of the parts shown in Fig. '7. The actions of the p-arts are the same. The same numerals as are found on Fig. 16 are applied to the parts in the other gures. In Fig. 16 I have shown the connection to the center |68 as made by means of a fork and the center |19 as workin a slot il@ in the extended end |12 of lever i. hen the parts are aligned as shown, the motion of the various parts is so small in practice that the necessary freedom may be provided merely by a running fit in the joints at these points and the fork and slot therefore do not appear in such realistic figures as 7, 8 and 9, nor have I attempted to illustrate any play in these joints.

Referring particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 9, the extension H2 of the lever is shown continued past point il@ and, preferably in line with the shaft of the cutter head 25, is supported by a radius link El@ which may desirably be pivoted at |78 in line with the pivot of the arm 38, about which center the cutter head swings.

The operation will be understood from Figs. lo through i5. In Fig. l0 we see the centers it and |635 of the two tracer rolls and the center |53 of the cutter head horizontally aligned. cutting circle of the cutter head, as will be discussed later, is somewhat smaller in diameter than the rolls so that it would cut a distance as shown at the right of the figure above the com" en tangent to the rolls. This distance is ated in Fig. l0 and in practice would be few thousandths of an inch.

Now way of example we may assume that a run of work is required which duplicates a previous order from which two identical samples a and b are available. These are placed on two of the tables 3G of the machine and blanks, as illustrated in Fig. 2a, on the succeeding tables and the cutter head is held up out of operation until the samples a and b approach the tracer rolls ist and iisd respectively. Now, viewing Fig. 10, as the convex portion of the samples a and b moves from the full line position to the dotted line position shown, the three centers of the rolls the cutter head move upwardly in unison to the dotted line position indicated and the work piece c will be cut somewhat over-size although not enough to spoil it for practical use. If, however, the centers always moved in unison in this manner, error would be cumulative, as already pointed out. Now, referring to Fig. 11, when the over-sized piece c reaches roll |42, it will swing its center let upwardly, depressing center |68 and causing a deeper cut to be taken on the block d than was taken on block c. The parts then move to the position of Fig. 12, center |63 is raised and center MS also but not so much with corresponding depression of the center of the cutter at tt, and this proceeds until the parts have, so to speak, found a common level, as indicated in Fig. l5 wherein there is a common tangent to the rolls itt and M2 and to the actual cutting circle of the cutter head 26, this being positioned above the zero line indicated in Fig. l0 a distance between Zero to one half the initial under-size of the cutter head. The rolls and cutter head will thereafter move parallel and vertically as the former are displaced by identical pieces g and h, and the cutter head will form the next succeeding piece to the identical contour. When the cutter head is resharpened, its cutting circle may be altered, but the machine quickly adapts its action to the change in the manner described.

Where original samples are not available, new ones may readily be made, either by a slight alteration of different samples on hand or new ones can be readily and quickly formed from soft wood. No durability is required as in the case of a cam or master pattern which might be required to control thousands of operations. As soon as the product begins to come oif the machine, two pieces may be utilized to start another similar machine in operation on the same work. The samples are cheap, easily stored and easily altered. Moreover, an important feature of the machine is that by starting with two markedly dissimilarly contoured blocks in one order or an-l other, as a and b, or by positioning a leading block on its table through suitable shims to alter the relation of its contoured face to the tracer rolls, a product may be out diiierent from either and in a short time a variety of blocks of different contours may be produced to serve as patterns for later duplication or as approximations readily altered by hand to provide patterns for a particular order.

In the description reference has been made to the cutting circle of the cutter head being of smaller diameter than that of the rollers. It would not be possible in practice 'for a mechanic to comply with a requirement that the cutting knives cut a circle of exactly the same size as the rollers. If its diameter were only .002 smaller than the rollers and the guiding movement of the system were limited to a vertical parallel movement of the roller centers and the cutter center, Yeach successive piece of work would be .001 of an inch higher, and if 1000 pieces were permitted to traverse the machine the error would mount to an inch. If the cutter were slightly too large, the nished work pieces would be progressively thinner. In accordance with my invention the mechanic may be told to grind the cutter with a tolerance of between .002 and .008, which he can readily do. If we suppose that he grinds the cutter .006 under-size, one-half of this, or .003, represents the distance shown at in Fig. 10 of the drawings and there greatly exaggerated. The work piece marked c would thus be .003 too high in Fig. 11, an error which would be negligible in itself in the case of a shoe heel. For such purposes no blocks whatever are wasted. The machine runs on in the manner described and the cutting circle soon automatically nds a common level with the under side of the rollers M2 and |44 in a iinal relationship, as shown in Fig. l5, wherein the successive pieces will be exact duplicates and the three centers will vibrate vertically in parallel planes.

I have described the tracer rolls |42 and |44 as equal in diameter to the nominal diameter of the cutter head and the various links lying substantially along the common center line. Mechanically it will be seen that the rolls might be considered as vertical arms of a length equal to their radius depending vvertically from centers |46 .M8 and having provision at their ends for rolling contact on the contoured pieces to facilitate their movement thereover. Also the actual rotating center of the cutter head might be definitely spaced vertically from the point |58. If the links were so formed that point |58 was out of alignment with centers |45 and |48, the

iii)

10 movements of the linkage would be similar although different in amount.

The spacings of the repeat of the contour along the stock will correspond to the distances between the cutter head and the tracer rolls and that between those rolls, which distances should be equal to or a multiple of the repeat spacing. In the example where each repeat is on a separate work piece carried by an individual table the spacing of the work pieces on the tables as determined by the gages |20, which are definitely spaced one from another although variably positionable with respect to the table surfaces, corresponds to that of the cutter head from the rolls. The contour of each repeat may be anything within the capacity of a shaper cutter in the distances involved.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, asis in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

l. A machine for producing contoured articles comprising a floating cutter head, means for advancing a series of work blanks linearly beneath the cutter head and beyond the same, means connected to the cutter head for variably positioning the same to cause it to cut a desired contour including a tracer which tracer is positioned beyond the cutter head and in the path of a piece of work which has been operated on by the cutter head and has moved past the same to cooperate with said completed work piece for displacement by the saine to control the position of the cutter head for operation on a succeeding work piece.

2. A machine for producing contoured articles comprising a floating rotary cutter head, means for advancing a series of work blanks linearly beneath the cutter head and beyond the same, two successive tracer 'wheels positioned beyond the cutter head and in the path of the pieces of work which have been operated on by the cutter head and relatively positioned to roll respectively on the contoured faces of separate successive pieces which have passed the cutter head as they continue their advance and means connected to the cutter head controlled by the joint action of said wheels for variably positioning the cutter head and eiective to bring and maintain its cutting circle to tangency with the common tangent to said wheels.

3. A machine for forming successive repeats of a contour comprising a floating cutter head, means for forwarding a stream of successive pieces of work material beneath and beyond the same and means connected to the cutter head and having an actuating portion located in the path of contoured material which has passed the cutter head as it continues its advance for control by such contoured material to position the cutter head relatively to the material presented in opposition thereto to dene the operative position oi the head.

4. A machine for forming successive repeats of a contour comprising a floating cutter head, means for vforwarding a stream of successive pieces of work material beneath and beyond same and means connected to the cutter head and having actuating portions located in the path of the contours which have passed the cutter head for"cooperation respectively with separate ones of said contours which have passed the cutter head and are continuing their advance in the stream for jointly and differentially ing the cutter head relatively to the presented in opposition thereto to denne the operative position of the head.

5. A machine for producing contoured articles comprising a oating cutter head, means for vancing a series of work blanks linearly beneath and beyond the cutter head, tracers positioned beyond the cutter head to make contact simultaneously with a pair oi contoured articles x ch have passed the cutter head as they con ue their advance for displacement individually thereby, and means connecting the tracers to the cutter head operating in response to a simul-u taneous displacement of the tracers to more the cutter head'n the saine sense and in response to a displacement of one tracer relative to the other to move the cutter head in the opposite sense.

6. Mechanism for variably positioning a ting tool to cause it to out a contoured .sur comprising a pair of tracers which traverse respectively separate patterns and a linkage ccnnecting the tracers and tool for eiiect` ments of the tool consequent on displacements or the tracers by said pattern, the parts or" said linkage moving in unison onrsiinul" lei movement of the tracers and shifting on re an tive movement of the tracers.

7. A mechanism ior controlling part through two pattern pieces comprising pair or tr 1 rolls on nxedly spaced centers capable ci sini-uln taneous parallel movement and relative s ing movementsin plane, links connecting sind centers and pivotally joined, a lever pivcted to one link between its center and the joint a operatively pivotally connected between its to an extension or the other link beyond the joint, the other end oi' the lever seing cperativey connected to the controlled part for positioning the same.

8. A machine for forming successive repeats oi a contour comprising a floating cutter head, means for forwarding a stream of worlr material beneath the same, a pair of tracer rolls in the wake of the cutter head on centers spaced iroin the cut er head and from each other to ce respond with the recurrences ci" the contour, said centers being capable of simultaneous parallel movement and relative swinging more?, in a plane to follow contoured work passing beneath the same, links connecting the centers and pivotally joined, a lever pivoted to one link betwee its center and the joint and operatively pivote, connected between its ends to an extension or the other link beyond the joint, the other end of f the lever being operatively connected to the head to move the same.

9. A machine for contouring articles comprisn ing a ilcating cutter head, a circulating conveyor having a run moving beneath the cutter head, a series of tables carried hy the conveyor hav' C gripping means for securing work thereon, supporting means for the tables ad cent the cutter along .vhich they are by the conveyor, a pair of tracer rolls in the of the cutter head on centers spaced ther and from each other to correspond with spacing of the work pieces on the tables, said centers being capable ci simultaneous parallel movement and relative swinging movement in a plane to material -ollow contoured articles coming from the head, lin connecting the centers and pivotally joined,

een its ends to an extension of the other link beyond the joint, the other end of the lever being operatively connected to the head to move the saine.

le. A machine for contouring work pieces comprising a chain conveyor, a cutter opposing a run thereof, tables pivotally mounted on the conveyor, each having g ping means for securing a work piece thereon, iront and rear wheels on each tahle at Y1er side thereof and track-ways in the vicinity oi the cutter located respectively in planes at diilerent distances from the cutter on which said front and rear wheels respectively run to position the tables du ng the cutting operation.

ll. A machine for contouring work pieces coma chain conveyor, a cutter opposing a run ti ereof, s pivot-ally mounted on the conveyor, having gripping means for securing a Werl; piece thereon, iront and ear wheels on each table at either side thereof and track-Ways in the vicinity oli the cutter on which said front wheels respectively run to position the ng the cutting operation, the trackfor one pair of wheels being adjustable in .fr machine lorv contouring work pieces comprising a chain conveyor, a cutter opposing the lower run thereof, tables mounted on the conveyor, each having aV mechanical gripping device for seein-ing a work piece thereon having a normally closed Work-retaining position, means for additionally holding the device closed during traverse of the table past the cutter, and means ior operating on the gripping device to open the we te discharge the work therefrom as the ning device moves adjacent to the saine, said cans being located remote from the position of the cutter adjacent the feeding-in end of the machine at the upper run of the conveyor to provide an extended travel of the table between the cutter and the said means permitting inspection of the contoured piece.

13. n machine for contouring work pieces comprising a cutter, a worksupporting table, runways along which the tacle is moved past the cutter head, clamping device on the table for securing' the work piece, electrically energized means on the table for holding the device closed, crushes moving therewith and contact strips adjacent the path or the tables on which said brushes run du ing the cutting operation to cnergize said means.

14. A machine for conterring Work pieces cornprising a. cutter, a work supporting table, runways along which the tahle is moved past the cutter head, a mechanical clamping device on the table having no1.; if-maintaining c` position for securing the work piece, elect 1ically energized ineens on the table ior holding the "evice closed, brushes moving therewith and coi ,ct strips the path of the tables prising a chain conveyor, a cutter opposing the upper surface of the lower run of lthe conveyor, tables carried by the conveyor having gripping devices for securing thereto work pieces to be traversed past the cutter and means adjacent the feeding-in end of the machine at the upper run of the conveyor operating on the gripping devices forv opening the same to discharge the work pieces from the tables.

16. A machine for contouring work pieces comprising a chain conveyor, a cutter opposing the upper surface of the lower run of the conveyor, tables pivotally hung on the conveyor, means in the vicinity of the cutter on which the tables ride to be supported thereby during the cutting operation, the tables having gripping devices for securing thereto Work pieces to be traversed past the cutter and means adjacent the feeding-in end of the machine at the upper run of the conveyor operating on the gripping devices for opening the same to discharge the wo'rk pieces from the tables.

17. A machine for contouring work pieces cornprising a conveyor, a cutter opposing a run of the conveyor, tables carried by the conveyor for carrying work pieces past the cutter, a second conveyor having a run moving at the same surface speed and adjacent said run of the rst Aconveyor and having back stops for the work pieces, which by virtue of the coordinated positions of the tables and back stops on the conveyors respectively are moved in over the back ends of the tables at the inlet ends of said runs.

18. A machine for contouring work pieces comprising a conveyor, a cutter opposing a run of the conveyor, tables carried by the conveyor for carrying work pieces past the cutter, a second conveyor having a run moving at the same surface speed and adjacent said run of the first conveyor and having back stops for the work pieces which are moved in over the back ends of the tables at the inlet ends of said runs, and means for adjusting the phase of said conveyors to determine the position which each back stop takes relatively to its table.

LEOy J. LAMBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,125 Lee 1 June 26, 1888 406,225 Metz July 2, 1889 494,771 Austin Apr. 4, 1893 769,980 Borg Sept. 13, 4 885,292 Richards Apr. 21, 1908 1,069,995 Anderson Aug. 12, 1913 1,551,178 Strand Aug. 25, 1925 1,615,088 Klieber Jan. 18, 1927 1,862,898 Knight June 14, 1932 1,863,251 Person June 14, 1932 1,908,029 Larson May 9, 1933 2,088,119 Schiltz July 27, 1937 2,361,820 Cromwell Oct. 31, 1944 

